Improved gig-tree



PATENT EErcE.

EDWARD A. COOPER, OF LANCASTER,- NEWV YORK.

IMPROVED GIG-TREE.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 53,578, dated April 3, 1866.

To all 'whom t may concern:

Beit known that I, EDWARD A. COOPER, of Lancaster, Erie county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gig-Trees for Harness 5 and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification.

This invention consists, first, in securing the check-rein hook to the tree-plate, in addition to the binding-screw or bolt, by means of a square-raised shank fitting a mortise in the tree-plate, so that the strain on the screw is greatly relieved and the hook held securely against lateral movement; second, in securing the seat or saddle and check-hook to the tree-plate, by a single screw with its head ou the under side of the tree-plate and its nut cut directly iu the metal of the seat; third, forming a groove around the cantle of the seat to receive a sliding back plate which secures and holds the leather covering of the seat; fourth, making the terret-nuts with end lips in connection with side lips cast on the tree-plate, the one to resist the draw of the terret-screw, and the other to hold the nut against lateral movement or twist; fifth, as a modification of the preceding, making the terret-nuts with end lips having notches cut therein, in connection with teats cast on the tree-plate and bent over into the notches in the lips after the nuts are inserted in the treeplate; sixth, securing the aps ot' the treeplate by means of rivets inserted on each side of the back-strap; seventh, fastening the back side of the tree-pad to the tree-plate by a tongue or hook cast on the tree-plate.

In the annexed drawings, Figure I is afront sectional elevation of my improved gig-tree, and Fig. II is a cross-sectional elevation ot same. Fig. III is a rear elevation ot the seat, showing the grooved ca'ntle and sliding back plate, which back plate is also shown by itself in Fig. IV. Fig. V shows the terret-nut as Y made when used with end teats cast on the treeplate. Fig. VI shows the same in connection with side lips on the tree-plate. Fig. VII is A represents the tree-plate, which is, in the main, of common form and construction.

B represents the seat or saddle surmounting the tree-plate and secured thereto by two screws, c and d, the screw c also holding` the check-hook.

E represents the check-hook, havin ga square raised shank, c', fitting a corresponding mortise in the tree-plate, and held therein by the bindingeserew c, the nut of which is cut inthe metal of the seat, as represented. This square shank receives the principal strain on the check-hooks and relieves the screw. It also holds the hook securely against lateral strain or twist. rEhe binding screw being passed through from the under side of the tree-plate and tapped directly into the inetalot the seat, leaves the upper surface ot' the seat smooth and unbroken, which is not the case in other gig-trees where a bolt inserted from above with a separate nut below is used. My device is cheaper, as involving a less number ot' parts, and is more simple and efiicient than the lastmentioned plan.

F represents the sliding back plate ot the seatB, secured thereto by insertion in groove b' cut around the cantle ofthe seat, said plate being held in place by a scre\v,f, drawingiu the direction of its length, or nearly so. rlhe object ot' this sliding plate is principally to secure the leather covering of the cautle by forcing the same into the groove b, as represented.

G (3f-represent the terrets, which are secured to the tree-plate by screw-shanks g" and nuts H. rlhe tree-plate is couutersunk or mortised to receive the nuts H, the nuts having end lips, h', which prevent them from drawing through said mortises, and the treeplate having side lips, h2, cast thereon, which prevent twisting or side movement ot the nuts.

Instead of the side lips on the tree-plate to preventtheturning of the nut, end teats,z', may be cast thereon and notches ft2 cut in the nuts, (see Fig. V,) said teats being, after the insertion of the nuts in place, bent down into the notches, and thereby holding the nuts securely.

The pad represented by the dotted lines J is applied to the tree and secured to the hook at its forward side in a common manner. To secure the back side of the pad to the tree, for which purpose no special means have been devised that I am aware of, I .cast a tongue or hook, K, at the back center of the tree-plate, which may be passed through the pad and bent over to hold the pad securely in place.

L represents the back-straps, secured to the tree-plate by the terret screws in a common manner.

M represents the aps, which are riveted to the tree-plate on each side of the back-strap, as shown at n.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The square raised shank c on the clreckhook E, and corresponding mortise in the treeplate, in combination with a binding-screw or bolt, as described.

EDWARD A. COOPER.

Witnesses:

F. A. LANGWORTHY, W. H. FoRBUsrr. 

